Youâve heard of lemons and the Citrus Scale? Well, what about KINKTOMATO?
KINKTOMATO is an important concept in fandom. Itâs a humourous re-spelling of YKINMKATO - Your Kink Is Not My Kink (And Thatâs OK). This is the idea that if you donât like a particular kink or ship etc, thatâs fine but you donât need to attack or shame the people who do. Just leave them alone to enjoy their fics and art in peace and ask that they do the same in return.Â
KINKTOMATO is the âyou do youâ of fandom. Itâs the âwhatever floats your boatâ of leaving other people alone. Itâs an easy and judgement-free way of hoping that your fellow fans enjoy their content as much as you enjoy yours and understanding that different folks like different strokes.Â
Having preferences is human. Having squicks is totally normal. Everyone has NOTPs or lines they donât want to cross. But fandom is a large group of diverse people with varying tastes and interests and backgrounds. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. Ship and let ship. Donât like? Donât read. Your kink is not my kink, and thatâs okay.Â
This, writers.
And yes, do bring back âsquickâ because if it makes you go âew, ickâ then thatâs a squick, or a hard âuh no NOT for meâ itâs a squick. (Something thatâs genuinely triggering will give you symptoms like hyperventillating, shaking hands, cold sweats, nausea, the feeling like youâre gonna faint, etc, but if it just makes you go âew, ickâ and scrunches your face in distaste, then thatâs a squick, my friend.)
